My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

I know , I know... i'm a lame a$$ for finally realizing that i haven't brought this truck over here yet. I've been a tad bit pre-occupied here the last month:rolleyes:

So on that note, I'm going to be even more lame, and copy/paste from another forum.

This is a project I have been working on. The story starts about 4 years ago when i bought a Wedico Pete cab off Ebay Germany. Found a good price on a 732 Pro chassis from Germany also, and was off to a good start at what i thought was going to be my dream truck.

It only made it this far before other obligations put a halt to the project.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...Picture238.jpg


Having 2 others at the same time didn't help matters:eek:

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...Picture239.jpg


I ended up selling it to a guy in Hawaii, and he toyed with it for a while. He didn't make it much further with it than I did. He ended up selling it to another guy in Ontario, Canada. He had big plans for it, and actually had made some progress with it. But in the end, he had to part with it as well.

Jumping forward to present time, I recently had the chance to buy it back. It was one of those "I can't really afford to buy it, but I can't afford not too" deals for me. Sentimental value may have played into it too. So the deal was struck, and a couple of months ago, it arrived on my doorstep. This truck's seen more of the world in the last couple years than i will in my life!!

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...C/Itshome1.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...C/Itshome2.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...DC/Itshome.jpg





And this is how the fun began.......

More in a bit.

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

I tore into it full force, and stripped it all down, and gave it a good scrubbing. The seller was decent enough to work with me on a payment plan, and in the time it took me to pay it off, I had been gathering some things to have ready for when it arrived. Namely, some paint, and a wheelbarrow full of stainless allen heads.

I stripped the powdercoating off the fenders, and roof, then shot the frame , fenders, and roof in Parma Fascesent Purple. That was then clearcoated in 2 stage automotive polyurethane.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...C/P5230036.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...C/P5230037.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...C/P5230054.jpg


Before it started to go back together, i polished up the grille surround and replaced the hideous looking stock grille with some aluminum mesh.

Before

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...illebefore.jpg

After

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...rilleafter.jpg

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

Starting to look like a truck again
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...C/P5240046.jpg

A little more progress
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...C/P5240036.jpg

I've always been a sucker for the single round headlights, so these found their way onto the front.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...C/P5250052.jpg

This was the part I was dreading dealing with, and most Wedico owners agree. The stock ride height on these trucks is WAY out of proportion. i just removed and tweaked a few leafs from the spring packs.

Before
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...relowering.jpg

After
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...erlowering.jpg

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

I milled up some frame covers. Not sure if they will stay or not. I have some HIGH$$$ axles for it, and seems a shame to not be able to see them with these panels covering them up.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1.../Deckplate.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...Deckplate1.jpg


I hung an extra front axle and springs underneath to give me an idea what a lift axle will look like on it, but still undecided on it. I do have a Wedico lift axle for it now, but it even it leaves me scratching my head. I want a steerable lift, so hopefully after a few sketches, and a few beers, maybe i can come up with something.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...C/Tagaxle2.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...DC/Tagaxle.jpg


Got the steering servo mounted up

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...frombottom.jpg


And my 25:1 gearmotor. I swear by these little things, and won't use anything but.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...rombottom1.jpg

As it looks from a side angle

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...ideprofile.jpg

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

I dug through my scraps, and found some angle to make some battery cups. Clamped them in the mini mill, trimmed the sides down, the bent the corners.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...tterycups1.jpg



This should be good for what... 6-7 hours of runtime?:

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...upsontruck.jpg

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

Added some center caps to the polished wheels, and some Bare Metal Foil in a couple of much needed areas. This stuff ROCKS.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...C/P7210012.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...C/P7210015.jpg

At which point (Nov2), the cab has been stripped, and is undergoing some drastic changes to the paint scheme. Stay tuned kids, this MAY just turn out cool !!

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

Very nice! That truck finding it's way back to you is actually kind of touching!:o:rolleyes::p Good progress!:D

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

go uncle rickie!!! truck is beautifulll!

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

I love the paint scheme, Rick. I was kind of hoping you'd keep the black and purple going, but I know you mentioned the orange peal of the black powder coat was bugging you! Guess I'll have to wait and see what the new color is. Maybe just a metallic black, with the same purple? I can't wait to see you get those high dollar axles under that chassis. It's killing me to wait! :D

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

Nice truck! Any updates?

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

Thx guys,

At this point (Xmas night), the cab was repainted in a new scheme (same colors), but i didn't like it :mad:, and it's now being stripped yet again, frame included, and will be done in a whole new color.:D

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

what kind of gear reduction did you use. isnt 25:1 gonna move to slow?
i see on the threads guys use 4:1.
thanks
steve

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

They guys using a 4:1 have a transmission in front of the gear reduction. Rick is using the 25:1 as his transmission.

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

Hi Steve, let me refer you to this thread, and you can be the judge.
http://rctruckandconstruction.com/showthread.php?t=318

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

You want a update Craig?... well here ya go...LOL This is the aftermath when you decide you want to do a color change !! It's also the one redeeming quality of owning a aluminum bodied truck. If you screw up your paint, you throw it in a bucket of lacquer thinner, come back 20 minutes later to bare parts, and start over again.

The chassis in the lower right will slide under the COE when it gets here.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...C/PC260003.jpg

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

Wow Rick, you were serious when you said one step forward, three back. Except I think you just took ten steps backwards, which is more then the typical Wedico building procedure requires! :D Inside joke, kind of.

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

Oh Nathan.. you should know by now nothing I do is typical..:o

I went from having a truck that all i had to do was throw a Rec. and a battery in it, and have a runner...... to ... well...... a pile of crossmembers and a couple rails. Besides, i needed to slow WAY down in order to comply with the 4 year build time that you're at. Inside joke, kind of:p

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

Thats pritty much an accurate statement.

Re: My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)
 

:D Oh man! Here I was hoping you'd get yours done sooner so you could tell me how these things actually drive. Seeings how mine has never turned a wheel under it's own power!